Bearing assembly for a vehicle hub

ABSTRACT

A bearing assembly for a vehicle hub comprises rolling elements ( 9, 10 ) which are in rolling contact with at least one inner raceway ( 2 ) and outer raceway ( 1 ), of respectively an inner ring member and an outer ring member, one of which ring members comprises two bearing rings ( 3, 4 ) which are interconnected by means of a mounting sleeve ( 14 ) for preloading the rolling elements in axial direction between the raceways. The bearing rings ( 3, 4 ) are bonded to the sleeve ( 14 ) by means of glueing.

The invention is related to a bearing assembly for a vehicle hub,comprising rolling elements which are in rolling contact with at leastone inner raceway and at least one outer raceway of respectively aninner ring member and an outer ring member, one of which ring memberscomprises two bearing rings which are interconnected by means of amounting sleeve for preloading and/or positioning the rolling elementsin axial direction between the raceways.

Such a bearing assembly is known from EP-A-623481. Said known assemblycomprises a sleeve onto which the inner bearing rings of two taperroller bearings are mounted. The sleeve has an outer flange againstwhich one of said inner bearing rings is resting, and an adjustableflange which is pressed against the other inner bearing ring forobtaining the desired magnitude of the preload.

The assembly constitutes a unity which can be mounted directly onto anaxle stub of a vehicle. It is not necessary to apply the preload whilefitting the assembly onto the axle stub, as the desired preload hasalready been applied at the stage of assembling the unit.

The proper preloading of the assembly depends on the accuracy of theassembling process. Also, the preload should stay constant over longerservice periods, which means that the components of the assembly shouldbe secured against coming loose.

In this respect, improvements are necessary. The object of the inventionis therefore to provide a bearing assembly for a hub which can bemanufactured more precisely, is more reliable as to the properpreloading, and can be mounted and dismounted more easily duringservice. This object is achieved in that at least one of the bearingrings is bonded to the sleeve by means of glueing.

The preload is obtained by the glued sleeve, which means that thepreload can be maintained reliably during long periods. Moreover, thebearing assembly can be manufactured in a relatively simple way, withoutapplying locking members.

The glue bond between the sleeves and the inner surfaces of the innerbearing rings is loaded in shear.

Furthermore, the glue bond between the sleeves and the inner surfaces ofthe inner bearing rings is of a cylindrical shape which is coaxial withrespect to the axis of the bearing assembly.

The sleeve is preferably bonded to the inner surface of the inner rings.These surfaces provide a sufficiently large bonding area, which enhancesthe reliability of the connection of said rings.

According to a compact embodiment, the inner rings may have facingradial surfaces which rest against one another. In a first variant theinner rings may have equal inner diameters with the same wall thickness,and the sleeve has a uniform, corresponding outer diameter. In a secondvariant, the inner rings may have different inner diameters and the samewall thickness, and the sleeve has two sleeve parts with different,corresponding outer diameters.

Furthermore, the outer ring member may comprise a hub member having aflange for connecting a wheel thereto; the outer bearing rings may beintegrated in the hub member.

The bearing assembly according to the invention has the advantage thatit can be preassembled with the proper preload; also, the assembly maybe pre-lubricated and subsequently the bearing space may be sealed.Thus, no dirt or other contaminant particles may enter the bearingspace, ensuring an extended service life.

As the bearing assembly constitutes a complete self-contained unit, itmay also be equipped with auxiliary equipment. For instance, one of theinner bearing rings may have an essentially axial groove for the supplyof compressed air in a central tyre inflation system. Also, the sleevemay have a groove for the supply of compressed air in a central tyreinflation system.

According to a practical embodiment, each groove may open out in anaperture of a first supply ring connected to the sleeve, which firstsupply ring is opposite to and sealed with respect to a second supplyring connected to the outer ring member.

According to a further possibility, one of the inner bearing rings orthe sleeve may have a groove for a signal cable connected to anABS-sensor, the components of which are connected to the inner ringmember and the outer ring member.

The inner bearing ring member may have a nipple for supplying oil to theinner surface of the sleeve, and the outer ring member may have a holewhich can be brought opposite the nipple, for inserting an oil pressureline to be connected to the nipple.

According to a particular embodiment, the glue layer may be obtainedfrom a foil. Said foil may be accommodated within a recess in at leastone of the bearing rings and sleeves.

Such bearing assembly may be produced by the steps of

applying a foil of glue material in a slit between a sleeve and abearing ring,

heating the sleeve and bearing ring so as to make the foil melt into aflowable glue,

spreading the flowable glue through the slit defined between sleeve andbearing under the influence of a reduction in the width of the slit as aresult of the heat increase of sleeve and bearing ring,

cooling the sleeve and bearing ring for solidifying the glue.

Also, an expandable mandrel may be employed for compressing andspreading the glue, in case the sleeve is a split sleeve which allowsexpansion. The mandrel expansion may be simply obtained by heating themandrel, which at the same time thus heats the sleeve and the foil glueso as to obtain a glue melt which spreads out through the slit betweensleeve and bearing ring.

The invention will now be described further with reference to severalembodiments shown in the figures.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show bearing assemblies with tapered roller bearings.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a bearing assembly with ball bearings.

FIGS. 5-11 show further examples of bearing assemblies with taperedroller bearings.

FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment with a split sleeve.

The bearing assembly as shown in FIG. 1 shows a unitary outer ringmember 1, as well as an inner ring member 2 comprising two inner bearingrings 3, 4. The outer ring member has raceways 5, 6, and the innerbearing rings 3, 4 have raceways 7, 8. Between these raceways, twoseries of tapered rollers 9, 10 have been accommodated, each separatedby a cage 11, 12. Furthermore, the outer ring 1 carries a flange 13having holes for connecting a wheel and/or a brake thereto.

According to the invention, the inner bearing rings 3, 4 rest with theirfacing surfaces against one another with optimal bearing clearance. Theyare connected under axial preload to each other by means of the gluedmetallic or non-metallic sleeve 14. The sleeve 14 is glued to the innercircular surfaces 15, 16 of the inner bearing rings 3, 4, whereby astrong bond is obtained having regard to the large bonding area offeredby these inner surfaces 15, 16.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the inner bearing rings 3, 4 each have arecess at their facing ends, defined by the recessed inner surfaces 17,18. In these recessed surfaces 17, 18, a slit metallic sleeve 19 hasbeen applied, which is bonded to the surfaces 17, 18. The recessedsurfaces 17, 18 are at a larger diameter than the nominal surfaces 21,22 of the bearing rings 3, 4.

The metallic sleeve 19 is applied by inward bending, and by subsequentlyallowing it to expand, thus forming the slit as indicated at 20.According to this embodiment, the nominal inner diameter of the bearingassembly is defined by the nominal inner surfaces 21, 22 of the innerring 3, 4.

Although slit 20 as shown in FIG. 2 extends over the full axial lengthof the sleeve 19, it is also possible to provide a local slit, whichdoes not extend over said full axial length, Moreover, it is possible toprovide more than one slit, e.g. two slits each at the position of aninner bearing ring.

FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment of a bearing assembly comprising anouter ring member 23, an inner ring member 24 consisting of two innerbearing rings 25, 26, as well as two series of balls 27, 28. The innerbearing rings 24, 25 have been bonded by means of glued metallic ornon-metallic sleeve 27.

The outer ring member 23 comprises a flange 28 for connecting a wheelthereto. Onto the outer circumference of flange 28, a brake drum (orbrake disk) 29 has been bonded by means of glue layer 30.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the bearing assembly comprises a unitaryouter ring member 31, as well as an inner ring member 32 consisting oftwo inner rings 33 and 34. There are two series of balls 27, 28.

The inner diameter of inner ring member 4 is larger than the innerdiameter of inner ring member 33. These members have been connected toeach other by means of glued metallic or non-metallic sleeve 35. Inparticular, sleeve part 36 of sleeve 35 is glued to the inner surface ofbearing ring 32, whereas flange member 37 of sleeve 35 is glued toradial surface 38 of bearing ring 33.

FIG. 5 shows a bearing assembly for a truck hub unit. This bearingassembly comprises two tapered roller bearings 39, 40, the outer rings41, 42 of which are connected to hub member 43, and the inner rings 44,45 of which are glued to sleeve 46. The inner diameter of ring 44 issmaller than the inner diameter of ring 45, and the sleeve 46 hascorresponding sleeve parts 47, 48 of different diameters. Hub member 43has a flange 49, carrying wheel bolts for connecting a wheel to the hubmember 43.

The bearing assembly can be mounted onto the axle stub of a truck,whereby sleeve member 46 fits onto the narrowing shape of the axle stub.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a groove 51 has been applied in the innerring 45. At the outer end of this groove, a nipple 52 connected to anair pressure line 53 is connected. At the inner end of the groove 51, afirst supply ring 54 has been mounted, comprising a radial opening 55 incommunication with groove 51.

The hub member 43 carries a second supply ring 56, having an opening 57in communication with bore 58, to be connected to a tire to be inflated.

The supply rings 54, 56 have been sealed with respect to each other bymeans of seals 60.

The embodiment of FIG. 7 comprises a sleeve having an axial groove 61.This groove contains a pressure line 62, by means of which compressedair for a tire inflation system can be fed to supply rings 55, 56, andfurther via channel 58.

The bearing assembly according to FIG. 8 comprises a tapered rollerbearing with a groove 51 in inner ring 45. Via this groove 51, anelectric cable 63 for ABS sensor 64 is lead.

For purposes for dismounting the bearing assembly from the axle of thevehicle, the bearing assembly according to FIG. 9 has a sleeve 46 withan oil pressure nipple 65. The outer ring member 43 has a radial hole66, which can be aligned with respect to oil pressure nipple 65 forconnecting an oil pressure line 67 thereto.

Via the oil pressure line 67, oil can be pressed between the facingsurfaces of sleeve 46 and the axle, such that removing the bearingassembly in question from the axle is promoted.

Although the figures are all related to bearing assemblies with twoseries of rolling elements, other embodiments are possible as well, e.g.with only one series of rolling elements, or more than two series.

FIG. 10 shows an amended detail of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The innerbearing rings 3, 4 according to FIG. 10 have recessed surfaces 17, 18which have an additional connection groove 69.

The metallic sleeve 68 has a slit 71 for mounting purposes and hasoutwardly protruding dents 70 which have been punched out of the sleeve.Opposing dents 70 grip in correspondingly opposed grooves 69, whichprovides a positive locking of the bearing rings 3, 4. The metallicsleeve 68 is also embedded in glue material.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment wherein the inner bearing rings 80, 81 eachhave a connecting ring 82, 83, which are mutually connected by a steelsleeve 84 having a slit 85.

Each of the connecting rings 82, 83 have a recess 86, wherein a gluefoil has been accommodated. A small slit 88 is available between theconnecting rings 82, 83, and the sleeve 84.

By heating the steel sleeve and using an expandable mandrel, two effectsare obtained. First of all, the glue foil is heated and melts, thusproviding a flowable glue which may penetrate the slit 88 under theinfluence of the sleeve expansion, obtained by the expandable mandrel.

Thus, a uniform and regular distribution of flowable glue over the wholeslit 88 is obtained.

Subsequently, the components are cooled down, leaving the glue in place,thus ensuring a proper shear connection between the inner rings 80, 81.

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment having a split sleeve 90. Due to the split91, said sleeve 90 may be expanded by a heated mandrel 92, preferably ofaluminum. This expansion causes the molten glue 93 to spread evenly.

The mandrel has a groove 94 situated opposite the slit 91 of the sleeve,so as to prevent glueing of said mandrel 94.

What is claimed is:
 1. Bearing assembly for a vehicle hub, comprisingtwo series of rolling elements (9, 10; 27, 28) which are in rollingcontact each with a respective inner raceway (7, 8) and outer raceway(5, 6) of respectively an inner ring member (4, 24) and an outer ringmember (1, 23), one of which ring members comprises two bearing rings(3, 4; 25, 26; 32, 33, 44, 45) which are interconnected by means of amounting sleeve (14, 19, 27, 35, 46) for preloading the series ofrolling elements (9, 10; 27, 28) oppositely in axial direction betweenthe raceways (5, 8), characterized in that said bearing rings (3, 4; 25,26; 32, 33; 44, 45) are bonded to the sleeve (14, 19, 27, 35, 46) bymeans of glueing, the glue bond between the sleeves (14, 19, 27, 35, 46)and the inner surfaces (15, 16, 17, 18) of the inner bearing rings (3,4, 25, 26, 32, 33, 44, 45) being loaded in shear.
 2. Bearing assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the glue bond between the sleeve (14, 19,27, 35, 46) and the inner surfaces (15, 16, 17, 18) of the inner bearingrings (3, 4, 25, 26, 32, 33, 44, 45) is of a cylindrical shape which iscoaxial with respect to the axis of the bearing assembly.
 3. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (14, 19, 27, 35, 46)is bonded to the inner surfaces (15, 16; 17, 18) of the inner bearingrings (3, 4; 25, 26; 32, 33; 44, 45).
 4. Bearing assembly according toclaim 1, wherein the inner bearing rings (34; 25, 26, 32, 33; 44, 45)have facing radial surfaces which rest against one another.
 5. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner bearing rings (3, 4;25, 26) have equal inner diameters, and the sleeve (14, 19) has auniform, corresponding outer diameter.
 6. Bearing assembly according toclaim 5, wherein the sleeve (19) has at least locally a slit (20). 7.Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner bearing rings(44, 45) have different inner diameters, and the sleeve (46) has twosleeve parts with different, corresponding outer diameters.
 8. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the inner bearing rings (32, 33)have different inner diameters, and the sleeve (35) has a tubular part(36) as well as a radial flange part (37), the tubular part (36) beingbonded to the inner surface of the inner bearing ring (34) withrelatively large inner diameter, and the flange part (37) being bondedto a radial surface (38) of the other inner ring (33).
 9. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the bondingsurfaces of the sleeve and/or the inner ring has been treated for betteradhesion.
 10. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outerring member comprises a hub member (1, 43) having a flange (13, 49) forconnecting a wheel thereto.
 11. Bearing assembly according to claim 10,wherein the outer bearing rings are integrated in the hub member (1).12. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of the innerbearing rings (45) has an essentially axial groove (51) for the supplyof compressed air in a central tyre inflation system.
 13. Bearingassembly according to claim 12, wherein each groove (51, 61) opens outin an aperture of a first supply ring (54) connected to the sleeve (64),which first supply ring (54) is opposite to and sealed (60) with respectto a second supply ring (56) connected to the outer ring member (43).14. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve (46) has agroove (61) for the supply of compressed air of a central tyre inflationsystem.
 15. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein one of theinner bearing rings (45) or the sleeve (46) has a groove (51) for asignal cable (63) connected to an ABS-sensor (64), the components ofwhich are connected to the inner ring member (46) and the outer ringmember (43).
 16. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein theinner ring member (46) has a nipple (65) for supplying oil to the innersurface of the sleeve (46), and the outer ring member (43) has a hole(66) which can be brought opposite the nipple (65), for inserting an oilpressure line (67) to be connected to the nipple (65).
 17. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the glue is a liquid glue. 18.Bearing assembly according to claim 17, wherein the glue bond isobtained under elevated temperature and/or pressure.
 19. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the glue is a thixotropic glue.20. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sleeve consistsof a metal.
 21. Bearing assembly according to claim 1, wherein thesleeve consists of a non-metal.
 22. Bearing assembly according to claim1, wherein the sleeve (68) is provided with locking means (70) which areinterlocked in grooves (69) of the bearing ring (3, 4).
 23. Bearingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the glue is obtained from a foil.24. Bearing according to claim 23, wherein the foil is accommodatedwithin a recess in at least one of the bearing rings (3, 4; 25, 26; 32,33; 44, 45) and sleeves (14, 19, 27, 35, 46).
 25. Method for producing abearing assembly according to claim 23, comprising the steps of applyinga foil of glue material in a slit between a sleeve and a bearing ring,heating the sleeve and bearing ring so as to make the foil melt into aflowable glue, spreading the flowable glue through the slit definedbetween sleeve and bearing under the influence of a reduction in thewidth of the slit as a result of the heat increase of sleeve and bearingring, cooling the sleeve and bearing ring for solidifying the glue.